Call panel for an elevator

Abstract

A call panel for an elevator including a call panel frame, an essentially planar front surface, a center panel connected to the call panel frame, and at least one call pushbutton also connected to the call panel frame. The at least one call pushbutton has teeth which fit into corresponding teeth of the call panel frame such that a gap between the at least one call pushbutton and the call panel frame is minimized.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A call panel for an elevator, said call panel comprising:
 a call panel frame; 
 a center panel connected to the call panel frame; and 
 at least one call pushbutton connected to the call panel frame and separate from the center panel, 
 wherein the at least one call pushbutton comprises teeth which fit into corresponding teeth of the call panel frame, 
 wherein the teeth of the at least one call pushbutton and the teeth of the call panel frame are located at an outer edge of the call panel, and 
 wherein a front surface of the call panel, which comprises the center panel and the at least one call pushbutton, is essentially planar. 
 
     
     
       2. The call panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the center panel is a display panel, comprising a display device able to display at least one alphanumeric or other symbol or graphical information. 
     
     
       3. The call panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the call panel is a landing call device. 
     
     
       4. The call panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the call panel comprises at least one of the following: an up call pushbutton above the center panel, and a down call pushbutton below the center panel. 
     
     
       5. The call panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the front surfaces of the center panel and of the at least one call pushbutton form the front surface of the call panel. 
     
     
       6. The call panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one call pushbutton is hinged a first end to the center panel or to the call panel frame proximate to the center panel. 
     
     
       7. The call panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the teeth on the call panel frame and the teeth on the at least one call pushbutton are arranged to alternately interleave. 
     
     
       8. The panel according to  claim 2 , wherein the call panel is a landing call device. 
     
     
       9. The panel according to  claim 2 , wherein the call panel comprises at least one of the following: an up call pushbutton above the center panel, and a down call pushbutton below the center panel. 
     
     
       10. The panel according to  claim 3 , wherein the call panel comprises at least one of the following: an up call pushbutton above the center panel, and a down call pushbutton below the center panel. 
     
     
       11. The panel according to  claim 2 , wherein the front surfaces of the center panel and of the at least one call pushbutton form the front surface of the call panel. 
     
     
       12. The panel according to  claim 3 , wherein the front surfaces of the center panel and of the at least one call pushbutton form the front surface of the call panel. 
     
     
       13. The panel according to  claim 4 , wherein the front surfaces of the center panel and of the at least one call pushbutton form the front surface of the call panel. 
     
     
       14. The panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one call pushbutton comprises two call push buttons spaced apart from one another, with the center panel located between the two call push buttons, and
 wherein the teeth of the call panel frame are provided only at the locations of the two call push buttons. 
 
     
     
       15. The panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the teeth of the at least one call pushbutton project outwards from the at least call pushbutton towards the call panel frame. 
     
     
       16. The panel according to  claim 6 , wherein the call panel frame is provided with a spring abutting against the at least one call pushbutton and is spaced apart from said first end.